Location: Atlantic Ocean.
Summary: My second day crossing the Atlantic on the Costa Favolosa, filled with sunshine, misadventures, and the ongoing challenge of navigating ship life, including a gym that apparently didn’t want to be found.
I woke up at 07:00, showered, grabbed my Kindle, and headed straight to the aft pool on Deck 9. I settled into a recliner, got myself a coffee, and read until the pool opened at 08:00. Once it did, I went for a swim, grabbed another coffee, and carried on reading until around 09:30.
At 10:00, I met Gail and we headed to the spa for what was advertised as a seminar on algae treatments for muscle pain. In reality, it was a five‑minute sales pitch encouraging us to buy products and book treatments. To top it off, they told me they couldn’t treat me anyway because of the open wounds on my leg. Not exactly the informative session I’d hoped for, and I left feeling disappointed.
At lunchtime, I ended up sitting alone at a table right by the restaurant entrance, a terrible spot I never chose again. I had a tomato stuffed with tuna, spaghetti with clams, and then some very poor lamb chops that were mostly fat and gristle. As I looked at the pile of leftovers, I thought of Rosa and was relieved she hadn’t witnessed the carnage. Thankfully, the white chocolate cheesecake redeemed the meal.
After lunch, I went back to my cabin for a siesta. Feeling refreshed, I decided to try the gym. Rosa had told me early afternoon was the quietest time, so off I went. I knew it was near the spa on Deck 10, so I headed that way. I saw a muscular man heading through a doorway and assumed he must be going to the gym, so I followed him. He wasn’t.
The door led to a quiet private bar and then out onto the deck. I spent the next hour wandering around the ship, up and down stairs, past a netball court, and eventually found a jacuzzi near a flume ride. At that point, I gave up on the gym entirely and sat in the jacuzzi with my Kindle instead. A German man joined me, and we chatted for a while before I headed back to Deck 9 for a pint and more reading until around 15:00.
Afternoon Quizzes
At 15:45, I went to the Palatino Grand Bar for a Hangman‑style quiz. It was hilarious, people sprinting across the stage to answer before the compere even gave a clue. Most of the answers were guessed before the game had even begun.
At 16:30, part two of the trivia game from yesterday started. I joined Mal, Keith, and Regina again, but Mal’s competitive streak and refusal to listen to anyone else made it less enjoyable than it should have been.
Dinner With a New Face
After the quiz, I took my Kindle to the piano bar, got a pint, and read until 19:00. At dinner, our group, Ann, Mal, Rosa, Keith, Regina, and me, was joined by Darrel, who had boarded in Tenerife. Mal’s eyes nearly popped out of his head; he clearly fancied him. We all introduced ourselves and chatted over dinner. I had tomato soup, grilled beef with chips, and a banana and caramel cake.
A Strange Show & a Better Ending
After dinner, I grabbed a pint and joined Gail, Dwight, and Tess in the theatre for Sapori d’Italia. It was supposed to showcase Italian art, but the acts didn’t seem connected to anything. The dancers pranced around in random costumes that distracted from the one genuinely good singer.
After the show, I went to the Moliere Lounge for a drink and listened to the band. Ann and Rosa joined me, and we chatted until the show ended. I told Rosa about my failed gym adventure. She explained that when I followed the muscular man, I should have gone the opposite way, he must have been leaving the gym, not entering it.
Rosa headed back to her cabin, and Ann and I wandered into the disco. We sat chatting and watching people dance until around 02:00 before finally calling it a night.
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